Haven’t posted in awhile...

...but I’m still coloring.  As some of you may already know, my dear hubby passed away on November 24, 2016, Thanksgiving Day.  The only word I can conceive to describe my life since that day has been“displaced.”  So I continue to struggle through each day until I can know, love, and accept the me I’m becoming.  Easier said than done. I’m not a mommy; I’m mom to a son who is a grow man.  I’m not a wife. Wife and stay-at-home mom is what I spent most of my life doing or being. With my hubby being ill those three years, I lost contact as I became a full-time care giver.  So now what? 

I’m still coloring, as that is when my mind is most at rest and I can feel a measure of joy, happiness.   Truly the best therapy.  Using an app aptly named “Color Therapy”.  It’s an amazing app, and I’ve met some amazing colorists there.  It’s been a crutch, and there’s so much I want to do with coloring traditionally and digitally.   So as I continue to post, you’ll learn more about this app because it’s what I’m doing whenever I’m not doing anything else.  

For those of you still here...

Thanks for stopping by!

New Coloring...

This one is from "Color Therapy".

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!

FYI - If you'd like to keep visiting...

An update on Google Friend Connect

December 21, 2015

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

Been Coloring...

...for adults.  With hubby being sick, I spend a lot of time at the hospital.  Sometimes I catch up on my reading. Other times I'm coloring or drawing on my IPad. Ever so often I make a purchase and feel like I really got my money's worth.  Such is the case with my IPad.  I've spent hours coloring and reading. This is a recent coloring. There are many adult coloring books available for free or for a cost, some free with in-app purchases.  This is from the Prisma Joy adult coloring book.

As always --

Thanks for stopping by.

A Cuddlebug Cutie

So I took out the Copic markers and started this little cutie. Anna Stilwell, another fav, over at Cuddlebug Cuties is the artist behind the Cuddlebug Cuties. Anna gives her cuties without charge, and she only asks that she is given the credit as the artist. 

I haven't taken out my Copics in so long I thought maybe I had lost a little, but I actually think I've gained a little about the process that I've been using with coloring digitally.  So that makes me feel happy because everything is working together which is always better.  I've listed the markers that I used, and I hope that's helpful.

                             E000,EOO,EO1,E02,E31,E35
                                 R20, RV10,RV11,RV21
                                          B41,B45, Y11
As always - -
                  Thanks for stopping by!

Coloring A Digi

I'm starting a new coloring. This is how I'm starting this particular digi. The lines are very faint, so I'm going to go over them using a pen tool that comes with the digital program using the color black.  The digi is by artist Sliekje. She is one of my favs, and you can get this one without cost on her blog, Sliekje.blogspot.com. There are lots of digital art programs available.  I use several just to get a feel for what's out there and what works best for me.  As a beginner I'm still pretty basic, but I have acquired a preference for programs that use layers.  You don't have to have them for coloring.  So grab a digi and let's see if we can get the hang of digital coloring.

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!

TAKE CARE OF THE GIRLS!!!

Hello,
Even though October - Breast Cancer Awareness month - is over, I wanted to repost my boobie card.  Better late than never.  Gotta take care of the girls!

Front

Back

As always --

 

Thanks for stopping by!



I Love To Color...

When I first got this digi from Tiare Smith, I downloaded it right onto my tablet.  It was a first for her and just getting it downloaded onto my tablet to work with was a first for me. Tiare was brave enough to try something new and look at her results.  A piece of art she could share with us.  Her determination made me determined to take on digital coloring and not give up.  

I colored one of these in April 2015, the other in September 2015.  You can note improvement, even though they both have elements that I like.  Just like with everything else, you learn the basics, then you keep practicing and practicing, and develop your own style.  You can get better in a short amount of time.

 April 2015

September 2015



To download a digi to your tablet, you save it as a photo image and import it into whatever digital program you are using. You can find more of Tiare's art, mixed media, and art journaling at www.tiaresmith.com. 

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!

Still coloring...

Hello,

If you've been coming by to visit, I hope you've benefited from something I have here. Once you learn the basics of something new, you just have to keep doing it over and over and over to get better, find your style, or just become more knowledgeable.  That's where I am with alcohol markers.  I have my preference (psst...it's Promarkers).  However, as a colorist, I won't be bound by one type of medium or product. There's too many to choose just one. Which leads me right where I want to be - digital art/coloring.

I'm enjoying it, and you are welcome to join me as I learn.  Just as we've done with Copics, we can learn together. 

There are lots of different programs to choose from, just like markers and pencils and other crafting things. You have to have patience because each program comes with its own learning curve.  Some are simple.  Some are complicated.  Some depend on what it is you want your final coloring or artwork to look like. Just like with anything else, you learn the basics and then practice, practice, and then practice some more. 

Here is my latest digital coloring. The colors seem to vary from device to device, so you may have to do a little tinkering to see the details close up.  This little ladybug is from a Bugaboo challenge over at CraftingCircle.com - where you can also find some fellow Circuteers.  Feel free to let me know what you think about it.

And as always --

Thanks for stopping by!



Painting....

Just wanted to share...

 The beautiful First Lady Michelle Obama.*I was able to create this "painting" with an app called "PaintCan." The reference photo is from Shon Helmsley and was shared on Facebook. As always -- Thanks for stopping by.

*(This photo is photoshopped. In the original MO has her hair as she usually  wears it.  I wasn't aware of that when I posted it.  Digital...gotta love it! )

Been Coloring -- Digitally!

Yep!  I've been coloring digitally.  Something that I didn't think I would ever do.  I haven't been able to spend much time in my "studio" area  to color.  But I've been able to use my tablet during doctor appointments and other waiting periods.  Why not learn something new and keep the brain cells alive.

So here's my new coloring.  'Tis the season for graduations.  My husband's youngest daughter has just completed her master's in education.  The look on this girl's face is kind of like mine when I started coloring and thought "I can really do this."  The digi is from and by Robert Jackson.  You can find it here with lots of others:  http://fineartsbyrobertjackson.com/ 

As always --

Thanks for Stopping By!

Re: Missing in Action

Hey,
If you're still stopping by, I want to do you the courtesy of explaining my lengthy absence.  I know I don't owe you one, but my home training dictates some type of explanation is necessary, and it may be therapeutic for me as well.

Some of you are aware my hubby has been extremely ill.  It began with pneumonia in August.  He was hospitalized, dehydrated and in kidney failure, back home a week later.  Returned the next week for what we thought were complications.  Turned out he had had a heart attack at some point after the first discharge.  His heart had been damaged and was only functioning at 20%.  Over the next few months, he gradually gained his strength and was back to his usual schedule.  

At the end of October he became very ill, and we learned he had lost blood supply to his intestines, and it had begun to die.  If left alone, he would die in 4-5 days.  With surgery there was a slim possibility he would survive, but was already in such a fragile state they didn't think he would survive.  Plus, they would need to find a surgeon willing to do the surgery knowing the odds were so against his patient surviving.  Hubby had the surgery and has had two more since.

So he has been hospitalized since the first of November, and needs to have another surgery.  He's weak and fragile.  He has to get stronger before they do the next surgery.  At this point they're hoping he can be discharged by the end of the month and work on getting stronger at home. 

My poor hubby has such a strong will to live.  He'd rather be in pieces and still alive than dead.  I don't know that I would have made the same decisions as he'd had to make.  I think I'd rather be dead than in pieces.  I think. 

I say I think because there are those that I love that I know depend on me to be here because I give their lives more meaning.  Could they go on without me?  Sure.  But I would be missed.  Missed more than any other person that died?  Probably not.  But I know these lives would be changed in such a way that they don't deserve to suffer such a trauma if it may have been avoided. They'd rather have me in pieces, at least for a while, I think, than dead.

I don't have the luxury of thinking nobody would miss me.  I know there are those that would.  My pity parties usually have no basis because when I start to think nobody loves me, nobody cares, I can't deceive myself because I begin to think, well, so-and-so loves me and would miss me, this one loves me and would miss me, that one loves me and would miss me...it's a blessing and a curse.

To those I follow, I keep up-to-date thanks to Bloglovin.  Haven't been good about leaving comments, but I do visit your posts when they come up.  I haven't had time to work with my coloring or jewelry very much, and those are the two things that keep me sane.  I try to catch up with emails and the blogs I follow, watch a new video post to catch up. 

Thank you so much for your comments, prayers, and best wishes.  They are so appreciated.

And as always,

Thanks for stopping by. 

Hello...

I have been MIA for quite awhile now.  My hubby has been very ill, so I've had to let some things go so I can be available to help him as much as he needs.

Still at a crossroads as to where to go with this blog.  Do you prefer a whole new blog if somebody you follow change their focus?  I named this blog my garden because there are several thing that I do that I might want to share here.  My coloring with Copics will continue to improve as I continue to color.  I have been giving a lot of time to jewelry making.  Trying to find something that is artistic but has an appeal that someone would be willing to pay for.  Not much, though.  My focus is still on the artistic, creative nature vs. cash.  So if someone saw something they liked, unless it has sentimental value, I would sell it to them if they wanted it enough to pay for it.  So both are a consideration but artistic and relaxing remains key.  This is what I do to find joy and peace of mind amid the chaos we call life.

Just letting you know I have not forgotten that you're here and that that's important to me.  Once my hubby is better I will definitely post something.  I always have swatches that I've colored and some pieces of jewelry I have made that I could take pics and post. 

Until next time, as always --

Thanks for stopping by!

This is my entry for the 4th leg of The Wiz Challenge over at SOC using Robert Jackson's images.

 

As always --

 

Thanks for stopping by!





The Wiz Relay Challenge #3

This is my entry for Challenge #3 of the Wiz Relay Challenge using images by Robert Jackson over at SOC.  In case you missed them, you can see the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion in my last two posts. 

As always...

Thanks for stopping by!

Scraps of Color's The Wiz Challenge #2

I'm so proud of my last two cards.  Not only did my brain not turn to noodles, I actually enjoyed making them!  This is the second leg of the relay challenge over at Scraps of Color using images by Robert Jackson. 

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!

Scraps of Color's The Wiz Relay Challenge

 

Finally did another card.  This one is for the Scraps of Color relay challenge using Robert Jackson's images based on the Wiz.  There's still time to play if you want to join, and the first image is free.



 

 

To get the next image you have to use this one.   Hope you enjoy the challenge.

 

As always .....

 

Thanks for stopping by!











Just a short note to say thank you to Regan at Sassy Design Studios.   Pop over in the next 24 hours for 4 free digis.
Please respect her Angel Policy.


http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/happy-2014.html

A Beader's Paradise

Okay.  So if you follow this blog, you know I don't get excited easily, but when I do -- Whoo baby!  I get sooooo excited!!!

Got an e-mail from one of Beader's Daily sponsors.  The e-mail said I could get $500 of stuff for $140 and free shipping.  Hmmmmmm...I was skeptical.

Well, I ordered, and my package came today with free -- did I say "free"? -- 2-day shipping.  I am dancing, singing, and smiling like nobody's watching.  Prima did not disappoint.  I got four big bags of beads and beading stuff.  I'll be making for me and everybody else for quite some time, may even open a store. LOL

Enjoy the pics.  I apologize for the lighting.  My bulb broke. 
 

 

 



Here's the link in case you want to get your own.  If you like beads, bead stuff, or jewelry, you really don't want to miss this.  Thanks, Prima.
http://www.primabead.com/Beaders-Paradise-P9399.aspx

 



As always --

Thanks for stopping by.

Challenges Come, Challenges Go

I finally made another card!  The inspiration?  The continuation of this challenge was in jeopardy.   It's hard to find time to do everything you have to do much less things you want to do.  Not easy to make commitments.   Recently several blogs I follow have closed and/or stopped their challenges due to lack of participation.  Some of them I will really miss.  This made me question my participation. 

As a colorist I look for other people's images to color.   I can't draw a lick.  Believe me, I've tried.  Life is short.  The older you get, the more things you cross off your to-do list.  Drawing is one of my cross-offs, at least for the time being.  Most of the images I have were free images kindly offered by some very generous and talented folks.  There is something special about those who give away their good quality images without cost.  So I will continue to post my coloring swatches with these folks' images here as my way of saying thank you.

I entered this card into the Robert Jackson digi challenge over on Scraps of Color.  The theme was for what are you thankful.  I'm forever thankful for prayer.  What an awesome privilege!  To speak to the highest personage in the universe and be heard.  Never take it for granted.  I enjoyed making this card.  Tried to follow a sketch for the layout, but I cheated on the papers.  Used two-sided paper.  No matching problem there.  LOL

As always --

Thanks for stopping by!